Orthodontist wire marking device

ABSTRACT

This invention is a device for use by orthodontists to mark arch wires used in orthodontic work wherein the device employ a means for transcribing the measurements made by orthodontists onto a wire in a permanent fashion so that the orthodontist may then correctly shape and use the marks as guides for placement of specific bend, such as loops, or for placement of attachments such as hooks on the arch wire used in orthodontic work. The device includes a means for clamping the unformed wire in position and means for aligning measurements and impressing permanent markings upon the wire in such manner that they may be readily identified. A cam-like marking device and indicating needle are worked cooperatively for this purpose.

United States Patent Aspel [451 June 6, 1972 ORTHODONTIST WIRE MARKING Primary ExaminerLeonard Forman DEVICE Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Phillips Attorney-Herbert C. Schulze [72] Inventor: Thomas E. Aspel, P.O. Box 251, Bonsall,

Calif. 92003 57 ABSTRACT Filed; J 1970 This invention is a device for use by Orthodontists to mark [2H AppL No; 6,453 arch wires used in orthodontic work wherein the device employ a meansfor transcribing the measurements made by orthodontists onto a wire in a permanent fashion so that the [52] U.S. CI. ..33/l89, 33/174 D or hodontist may then correctly shape and use the marks as [5 1] Int, Cl, 61 7/00, A61 19/04 guides for placement of specific bend, such as loops, or for 58 Field of Search ..33 174 D, 189 Placement of attachments Such as hooks on the arch wire used in orthodontic work. The device includes a means for clamp- 56] References Cited ing the unformed wire in position and means for aligning measurements and impressing permanent markings upon the wire UNITED STATES PATENTS in such manner that they may be readily identified. A cam-like marking device and indicating needle are worked cooperative- 1,667,028 4/1928 Boynton ..33/1 89 ]y for this purpose 3,523,371 8/1970 Vencill .33/189 3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJUH s 1972 SHEET 10F 2 PATENTED H W2 3,667, 129

SHEEI 23E 2 flaMAs AS1 51.

WrrmI/E/ ORTHODONTIST WIRE MARKING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of orthodontic devices and in particular relates to a device to be used in connection with arch wires. The specific field is in connection with means to transfer the orthodontists measurements from a patient record card to an arch wire in which there is included a means to accommodate for tooth curvature, and variations in tooth thickness, and band thickness.

2. Description of the Prior Art Up until the invention of this device, the only art known to me is that of individually measuring with a calipers from point to point on the teeth as marked, and transferring by calipers or the like to a wire, then marking the wire with appropriate marking material or scratching the same or by placement of the approximately shaped wire into place in the patients mouth and marking the same. These are tedious processes and frequently are inaccurate and time consuming.

The dental field employs arch wires regularly and it is necessary to make numerous marks at the appropriate distance to accommodate between individual teeth and to account for the curvature in the proper fashion. Yet, the only means for marking has been, as I have described, by dividers or the like with no means to permanently hold the wire during the marking procedure and to make positive alignment to all previous and future marks to be made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have studied the problem of marking of arch wires for long periods of time and have actively marked arch wires and had them marked repeatedly by technicians under my control.

I have had the opportunity to observe the many deficiencies in these methods, which include the inaccuracy of transferring marks to a wire held by a technician or the like and also the slow and time consuming procedure to individually mark off from the measurement cards theretofore prepared. Likewise, it is very easy when there are a number of marks on one card to forget which mark was the last one measured and thus come up with errors. In the case of direct marking in the patients mouth, this time consuming step can be eliminated.

After the wire is marked, the orthodontist then shapes it with his regular orthodontic equipment and once the wire has been marked, it is a relatively simple matter to properly bend the wire for use.

I have devised a method for marking in which the individual patients tooth measurement card is clamped onto a device; and appropriate moveable measuring scale is provided to accommodate for tooth curvature; and a means is provided to clamp the arch wire firmly in position. A further means is provided which is easily adjustable throughout the entire length of the patient tooth measurement chart. This device has a needie-like indicating member which may be aligned to individual marks and such needle indicating device is fimtly afiixed in correct alignment with a marking means. The marking means is adapted to be impressed upon the arch wire wherever desired. A movable scale is also provided so that any accommodation for tooth curvature or the like may be easily measured and placed upon the scale with no loss of time.

In use, the orthodontist clamps an arch wire in place, places the patient tooth measurement card in place, and then aligns the indicator needle to a given mark. He then moves it to the next mark and adds from the measurement scale any ap propriate amount from core tooth curvature and then presses a cam which impresses the marking device upon the wire.

The orthodontist then repeats this with all other marks upon the patient's marking card and very quickly has the entire arch wire completely marked for use. Thereafter, the arch wire is removed from the device and is bent in the desired shape by the orthodontist using his regular tools for this purpose. After being properly bent, the arch wire is affixed in the usual manner to each of the teeth being treated.

Thus it is an object of this invention to provide a means for accurately and permanently marking an arch wire to define the proper location of each tooth;

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for marking an arch wire with marks at the appropriate intervals for bending to accommodate the correct tooth position and size and so that second or third order bends may be placed or attachments affixed to the arch wire;

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means for marking arch wires in which each mark may be compensated so as to account for individual curvature differences.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will be clear to those skilled in the art upon reading the description of a preferred embodiment which follows in conjunction with the'accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective of a preferred embodiment of the device for performing the method and for this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the device of FIG. 1 with a broken away patient tooth card partially in place;

FIG. 3 is an indication of a patient tooth chart;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective of a few teeth showing an arch wire in use;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of an arch wire before being formed to fit the teeth;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section through 66 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a section on 77 of FIG. 2;

FIG. Sis a section on 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the marking area as shown in FIG. 6 with an alternate marking device inserted.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As indicated in FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a device for perfonning the method of this invention comprises a wire marking device generally 10, consisting of a base 12 formed from steel or other suitable material; a rod 14 which is fastened as indicated within an appropriately shaped area of base 12. It will be noted that this rod has a fastening set screw 16 to hold it in place in order that it'may be removed as desired for repair and the like.

A carrier block 18 properly joumaled with a bronze bushing, ball bushing, or the like 20 is so disposed as to slide upon rod 14 heretofore described.

The carrier 20 has mounted thereon an indicating and marking housing 22 to which is affixed a'cam-mounted lever 24 indicated as being pivotally mounted on pin 26. The cam action at 28 causes the marking housing 22 to pivot about shaft 14. This will be clear from the two illustrations of the positions of lever 24 on FIG. 6. A marking indicator 30 is fastened within the indicator housing 22 by set screw 32 and is mounted within alignment slot 34. It will be observed that the entire carriage 20 and the rod 14 are mounted within the milled slot 36 in the base 12.

A pair of card holding clamps 40 are fastened to the base by means of screws 42 through a pair of brackets 38. Brackets 38 are so formed as indicated best in FIG. 7 as to provide a milled out portion 46 to accommodate a sliding scale 44. The scale 44 is appropriately marked as at 48 with any desired type of divisions, whether the same be in a standard measuring arrangement such as inches, millimeters and the like or whether in a special scale for orthodontic work exclusively. The patients card 50 has marks placed thereon as at 52, which marks are spaced appropriately to indicate the distance between the teeth in the manner as is customarily taken off by an orthodontist using calipers, as is well known in the orthodontic art. When the card 50 is placed upon the device 10 as indicated in FIG. 2, each of the various marks 52 may be aligned with the alignment indicator 30. Additionally, the indicator 30 may then be moved a given number of divisions or by comparing another scale against the scale 44 to allow for curvature or other increases in length as desired.

The arch wire 68, which is basically a straight wire normally of rectangular cross-section but perhaps of other cross-section as may be desired, is placed as indicated on the wire holding block 70 which is formed integrally with base 12 or attached by screws or the like to base 12. The wire holding block may be so constructed as to hold securely the particular dimensions of wires used by a particular orthodontist, and this holding block may be so that if a different dimension of wire is to be marked, a holding block of appropriate size can be inserted. The wire is fastened and held in position during the marking operation by the cam locking arrangement 60, formed as indicated by offset and fastened to block 12 by screw 56 through a turning knob 54. An appropriate bushing or other bearing surface 58 is inserted to allow easy turning of the enlarged head 54 about the bolt 56 to enable the offset cam 60 to lock against the arch wire 68 or otherwise fasten it in position.

The shoulder 62 is provided as clearly indicated in FIG. 7 to hold the locking cam 60 at the proper elevation so as to properly lock against and hold wire 68 in position.

In the operation of this device, the orthodontist will align the indicator 30 with one of the marks 52 on patients card 50. He will then depress the lever 24 and as will be indicated clearly in FIG. 6, such depression will cause the carrier 22 to move about the rod 14 in such manner that the indicator 30 at its extension will press against the arch wire 68. This causes a depression which makes a permanent mark.

The orthodontist then releases lever 24 and the carrier 22 may be moved to the next position for-marking. Such next position may be the exact mark on the card or may be that mark plus a differential on the scale as is well known to those practicing in this field. The carrier 22 is then released and alternately pressed forward as heretofore indicated against the wire until all appropriate marks have been made. Then the wire 68 is removed and will have the marks 72 as indicated in FIG. from which the orthodontist may then accurately shape the arch wire for proper use.

FIG. 9 shows an alternate embodiment in which a screw 64 has been inserted in place of screw 32 as shown in FIG. 6 and has a hollow center for the purpose of carrying ink or the like. A pad 66 or the like has been inserted as indicated and the pad 66 will now function in the same manner against 68 as did the extension of indicator rod 30 in FIG. 6. In this way, if desired, paint, ink, or other such material may be used to mark as opposed to an indentation as will be made using the embodiment as originally described and well shown in FIG. 6.

When the arch wire 68 has had all marks 72 as indicated in FIG. 5, it will then be shaped by the dentist and affixed to the teeth as indicated in FIG. 4 in customary manner. Although this is well known to those skilled in the art, a brief description is mentioned for general information. A stainless steel band or the like 76 will surround a portion of each tooth 74 and such band may have various means as indicated by 80 attached thereto to guide and to be affixed to the arch wire. The arch wire may ultimately be tied with fine wire as 82 if desired. The carrier 80 is frequently supported on a piece of metal 78 which may be adhered to the band 76 or the like. All of this latter description is merely by way of explaining wherein the arch wire is used.

While the embodiment of this invention shown and disclosed is clearly and properly capable of achieving the objects and advantages desired, it should be understood it is for illustrative purposes and not for purposes of limitation.

I claim:

1. A device for marking Orthodontists arch wire comprising; a base, a scale mounted on said base, means on said base to mount an arch wire on said base adjacent and parallel to said scale, means on said base to mount a tooth record card on said base adjacent and parallel to said scale, means attached to said base to slidably carry an indicator mechanism, an indicator mechanism carried by said means to carry an indicator I mechanism wherein said indicator mechanism is slidable freely along said base in rejgist with said card, scale and wire means attached to sar 1n rcator mechanism to impress a marking upon said arch wire, and means to actuate said last mentioned means.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said marking means comprise means to make an indentation.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the indentation marking means is attached to cam actuating means in order to impress said marking means against said arch wire. 

1. A device for marking orthodontists arch wire comprising; a base, a scale mounted on said base, means on said base to mount an arch wire on said base adjacent and parallel to said scale, means on said base to mount a tooth record card on said base adjacent and parallel to said scale, means attached to said base to slidably carry an indicator mechanism, an indicator mechanism carried by said means to carry an indicator mechanism wherein said indicator mechanism is slidable freely along said base in registry with said card, scale and wire means attached to said indicator mechanism to impress a marking upon said arch wire, and means to actuate said last mentioned means.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which said marking means comprise means to make an indentation.
 3. The device of claim 1 in which the indentation marking means is attached to cam actuating means in order to impress said marking means against said arch wire. 